PLANS to revamp a service station and open Halstead’s first Pret A Manger have been given the green light by council bosses.
Motor Fuel Group, which owns the service station on the corner of Trinity Street and Kings Road, is set to refurbish the site.
Plans first went into Braintree Council’s planning committee in June and have now been given the official go-ahead.
The owners submitted plans in summer last year to change the service station, which included opening a Greggs.
Despite being approved, a new proposal was then submitted which was designed to be “more efficient and road-user friendly.”
Halstead Town Council had no objection when it discussed the plans at a meeting earlier this month.
Town council chairwoman Jackie Pell previously said the application would be “difficult to refuse” and hoped the plans would make the site less of an “eyesore” to residents.
The plans include demolishing the current empty showroom and furniture store to allow for a side forecourt shop extension at the service station.
There will also be the introduction of electric vehicle charging bays and customer parking in place of the demolished building.
This will provide customers and motorists extra facilities which are "considered necessary to fully complement the existing service station”.
The proposal to extend the forecourt shop will also provide retail space and a food area with seating.
Layout plans for the site reveal it to be a Pret A Manger.
Opening times for the forecourt shop will remain 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The forecourt shop and food outlet will continue to be operated by the applicant.
The planning decision says: “The proposal will result in the small loss of retail floor space associated with the proposed demolition of the showroom.
“However, it will result in the creation five of an extended forecourt building to create a retail/food takeaway facility providing an increased range of goods on offer.
“This would provide a benefit to the wider community and for motorists using the facility passing through Halstead.”
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